KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Jimmie Johnson took time this week to drive the car pool for Hendrick Motorsports whiz kids Alex Bowman and William Byron, while Matt Kenseth joked last weekend about driving a school bus if he fails to find a ride for next season.

Hendrick Motorsports will unveil its four Daytona 500 cars later this week in an ceremony at the Charlotte Convention Center. It will be the first appearance for Hendrick's 2018 driver lineup, which is anchored by unflappable seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson.

JOLIET, Ill. - Jimmie Johnson has NASCAR history in sight. Martin Truex Jr. wants to become more than a mere footnote as the regular season champion. Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch each hope to add a second championship trophy to the collection.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. had just completed a satisfying sixth-place finish at Sonoma Raceway when he was stopped by the Fox Sports cameras in what might have been his final post-race interview with the network.